Henriette-Louise Colbert, duchess of BEAUVILLIER... - Lot 257 - Ader

Henriette-Louise Colbert, duchess of BEAUVILLIER (1657-1733) daughter of the Great Colbert, wife of Paul de Beauvillier, duke of Saint-Aignan, tutor of the duke of Burgundy and friend of Saint-Simon. 21 L.A.S. "La Duchesse de Beauvilliers", mostly Versailles 1700-1708, to Mgr Tafforeau de Fontaine, bishop of Alet; about 70 pages in-8 or in-4. Very beautiful and interesting correspondence, perfectly summarizing the intimate drama of Madame de Beauvillier's life, as described by Saint-Simon [the duke and duchess de Beauvillier had thirteen children, including eight daughters; seven of them were nuns at the monastery of the Benedictines of Notre-Dame des Anges in Montargis; many deaths, including the boys who died young] : the care of her religious daughters, the faltering health of her husband, though very busy with his important duties; the loss of her two sons, the adoption of her half-brother-in-law as Duke of Saint-Aignan, the marriage of the latter, the marriage of her last daughter, etc. All this was borne with a very dignified resignation, thanks to a great piety, just like that of the Duke. News of the Court and of his family, religious echoes and pious reflections, constructions made in Montargis, marriages, trips to the mineral waters, entries to the convent of his daughters, etc. Former collection Marcel Plantevignes (sale December 16, 1977, n° 69).